Punching tool for primer cartridges



March 15, I932. E. 1.. BILHEIMER 198499474 PUNCHING TOOL FOR PRIMER CARTRIDGES Filed Sept. 1, 1931 INVENTOR ms ATTORNEY diameter to substantially fit which has been inserted a detonator,

Patented Mar. 15, 1932 7 area EA-RL'YLEO BILHEIMER, or BONNE TERRE, CO-IIIPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

MISSOURI, ASSIGEOR T ST. JOSEPH LEAD; 1

A CORPORATION 013 NEW YORK PUNGHING rooL FOR PRIMER CARTRIDGES Application filed September The invention relates to a special tool for punching or forming a longitudinal fuse re ceiving opening in powder sticks employed in blasting operations and, to this end, comprises a tubular casing having an internal the powder stick and a punch rod secured centrally in and extending longitudinally of the casing adapted to form a longitudinal bore or opening of definite length and position in the stick when the latter is forced into the casing.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a typical stick of blasting powder with a fuse and cap secured in the longitudinal opening therein.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the tool.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the tool.

Fig. at is a view similar to 2, with the casing removed.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the plug.

In hlastin operations, involving the explosion of StlCKS of blasting powder, such as dynamite inserted in series in a suitable drill hole formed in the material to be blasted, it is customary to explode the charge by means of a primer cartridge, which consists of a stick of dynamite or blasting powder in usually known as'a dynamite cap, which is exploded by the application of be t supplied by a fuse to the end of which the cap is crimped. The fuse ordinarily employed is generally of rope-like form with a continuous central core of powder or similar material that burns, when ignited, at a substantially uniform rate. To secure the best results, the fuse, which is cut to proper length, and the cap or detonator crimped to the end of the fuse, are inserted into an opening formed in the primer cartridge or stick of blasting powder, so that, when the fuse burns down to the charge in the cap or detonator, said charge is exploded and this explosion detonates the primer cartridge, which, in turn, detonates the other cartridges or powder sticks in the drill hole. If, for any reason, the primer cartridge fails to explode after the charge has been ignited, the unexploded charge becomes a serious detonator and length of fuse,

1, 19s1. Serial ire/teases.

hazard to the lives of those who haveto deal with it. It therefore becomes very important that the primer cartridge be prepared with careful attention to details to provide, as far as practicable, against failure to function properly. Furthermore, since there is an element of danger in handling dynamite caps or detonators, especially with dynamite cartridges or sticksnearby', :it also important hat the l equipment used to prepare the primer cartridge be designed and arranged to reduce the hazard to the workmen asfar as possible. i i Q The present invention is designed primarily to reduce the danger in preparing and assembling the primer cartridges, more especially in' preparing the bore or hole in the powder stick, which receives the associated by providing means for forming the bore or longitudinal opening in the powder stick so that the fuse and detonatorimay be properly and accurately positioned within the stick. Thespecial tool of my invention involves a tubular case,

ing 1, preferably nade of brass or similar metal, which'ls des gned to recelve a stick of blasting powder, which is usually cylindricalp the bore of the tubular casing being of sufficient' diameter to accurately guide thepowder stick into telescoping engagement with the casing. One endof the casing, in the exemplific ation here shown, is provided with a plug 2, which may be. united to the interior of the casing by bra'zingor the like, in the center offwhich plug is mounted a pointed punch I rod 6, which s thus maintained in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the casing and of the powder ably, the plug 2 has secured to its outerface a handle 7 which may conveniently take the form of a section of rod-brazed to the plug by means of which thetool is manipulated. The plug 2 ispreferably providedwith a series of openings 3 and the casing Qadjacent theplug with openings 5, which permits the escape of granular material or dirt which might accumulate in thetoo'l and also allow the venting of the casing when the latter is forced in telelspoping engagement with the powder stic..

stick to be perforated. Preferi In applying the tool to its intended use, ing a tubular casing having a longitudinal the stickof powder or dynamite is telescopidiameterto fit the powder stick, a plug secally engaged with the open end of the cascured at one end of the casing, a punch rod ing until t e sharp end of the pointed rod 6 secured centrally in saidplug and extendlng engages the entering end of the stick. By eX- longitudinally of the casing, and a handle se- 70 ercising a pressure on the handle 7 by one cured to said plug, the plug and the casing hand and the dynamite stick by the other, the being provided with vent and cleaning openpunch rod 6 is forced accurately through the ings. v center of the stick, forming a clean cutbore In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

m or opening of the desired depth. If di-rect EARL LEO BIL IEIMER. pressure fails to :produce the. desired puncr I T i ture, a relative rotary motion between the tool and the powder stick will-materiallyaid in the formation of a cleanvhold in the stick. i i

After the hole has been punched to the dei 89 sired depth, the powder stick is, withdrawn I f i Y L e from the casing and the detonator cap with the proper length of fuse applied thereto is applied in the manner and formillustrated in v I V i I p 1 a Fig. 1, so that the assembly constitutes an I I elfective primer cartridge for firing a main charge. 7 o 7 p While the element forsupporting the punch rod is shown .as a plug, it will be understood Y.

that thesame may takeany other appropriate r r V 9 form provided it constitutes a rigid-support which will maintain the punch rod in accurate alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular casing. V p i g What I claim is: .7 i i 95- 1. Atool for punching longitudinal fuse receiving openings in powder sticks, comprising a tubular casing'having a longitudinal diameter to fit the powder stick, a plug secured at one end of the casing, and a punch rod secured centrallyvin said plugand extending longitudinally of the casing.

2,. tool for punching longitudinal fuse receiving openings in powder sticks, 'comp I prising a tubular easing having a longitudio r nal diameter to fit the powder stick, a plug secured at one end of the casing, a punch rod secured'centrally in said plug and ext-ending longitudinally of the casing, and a handle sec-ured'to said plug.

3. A tool for punching longitudinal .fusc receiving openings in powdersticks, compris ing'a tubular casing having a longitudinal diameter to fit the powder stick, a plug se- 7 o ;curec'l at one end of the casing, and apunch v rod secured centrally in said plug and extending longitudinally of the casing, the plug be ing provided with vent and cleaning openm s. V V

55.; A tool for punching longitudinal fuse v 4 '12s receiving openings in powder sticks, comprising a tubular casing having-a longitudinal diameter to fit the powder, stick, a plug secured at one end of the casing, and a punch v 7 6% rod securedcentrally in said plug and ex- V V 12:,

tending longitudinally of the casing, the plug and the casing being provided with vent and lit cleaning openings. I

5. A tool for punching longitudinal fuse v o 1 o receiving openings 1n powder sticks, comprisv 

